Kindred Minds BME Manifesto

£443
of £3,000 goal

We are a group of mental health service users from Black and Minority Ethnic communities and allies campaigning for a socially just world that is better for our mental wellbeing.

We have consulted with 200 BME mental health service users and analysed over two decades of research and initiatives to write a mental health Manifesto, called "A Call for Social Justice", which is fairly unique for being BME mental health service user led. The Manifesto is of national relevance to BME communities and essential reading for people campaigning for social justice.

The Manifesto calls for changes in local, regional and national policy and practice, in order to improve the mental wellbeing and lives of BME mental health service users. The Manifesto addresses interlinked areas of disadvantage and racism in: mental health, policing, benefits, employment, education, housing and research and knowledge production

Whilst we got some seed fund money to start our work, this was not intended to fund everything we needed to do.

Whilst we have secured a venue for a launch event in London on 18 July, we still urgently need money NOW to cover design of the manifesto full report and a shorter executive summary, printing of 1000 copies of the executive summary only; and pay for refreshments and other expenses at the launch event.

The launch aims to bring together BME mental health service users, BME community members and politicians, the NHS, local councils and other decision makers, to start planning the long journey to implement the Manifesto demands. This is an opportune moment for long overdue change due to the Race Inequality Audit and the Mental Health Act Review ordered by the Government. But without a vocal and sustained lobby to drive things forward this opportunity will be lost. The Manifesto is designed to facilitate the coming together of such a lobby.